Windmill-governor.



L. M. NELSON.

WINDMILL GOVERNOR. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 16, 1909,

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. M. NELSON. WINDMILL GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1909.

950,077. Patented Feb. 22, 1910. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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LOUIS M. NELSON, OF DOUGLAS, WYOMING.

WINDMILL-GOVERNOR.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs M. NELSON, citizen of the United States, residing at Douglas, in the county of Converse and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmill- G'overnors, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to stroke controlling means for motors utilizing air currents as the energizing agent whereby the varying currents may be advantageously utilized in the performance of work, the mechanism being automatic in its action to adapt the wind engine or motor to the load and to the force of the wind.

The invention contemplates the provision of novel mechanism, which may be adapted to wind mills now in use without necessitating any material change in their organ ization or structure, the same being designed with a special reference to be interposed in the length of the pump rod or power transmission to vary the leverage proportionate to the load and the power of the wind.

The invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a horizontal section of a wind mill showing in plan view a governor mechanism constructed in accordance with and embodying the essential features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the governor mechanism showing a portion of the tower and pump rod. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the governor mechanism, a portion of one of the levers being broken away; and illustrating the section of the pump rod connected to both levers: Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the coupling connecting the two levers to the governor mechanism, showing the parts on an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a side View, partly in section of a shackle forming a part of the coupling means between the two levers; Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the means for varying the position of the coupling and connecting the levers; Fig. 7 is a transverse section of means employed for supporting a pump mechanism hereinafter specifically described, and shown in partial longitudinal section in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 16, 1909.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910. Serial No. 478,207.

Fig. 6; and, Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view of a coupling means between the two levers, together with some associated parts.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

It is contemplated to apply the governor mechanism to any type or style of wind mill in general use, whether of the vertical or horizontal variety, or whether embodying solid or feathering blades, the construction being such as to admit of the governor mechanism being interposed in the length of the pump rod or power transmission of any nature.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 indicates supports of a tower, on which the wind engine is mounted. Parallel bars 2 extend horizontally and are connected to diagonally arranged supports 1. The bars 2 are provided as convenient means for supporting the governor mechanism.

The pump rod or power transmission is designated by the numerals 3 and 4., the sections being connected to the respective levers of the governor mechanism. The part or section 3 is adapted to be connected to the wind mill or motor in any well known manner. The section or part 4 is designed to be coupled to the pump or other part to be operated or driven by the wind engine.

The governor mechanism comprises two levers 5 and 6 which are preferably arranged to extend in opposite directions and pivoted at or near their outer ends to the bars 2, the inner overlapped portions being connected by means of 'a coupling 7, the position of which is variable and automatically controlled. The levers 5 and 6 may be of any construction and have pivotal connection with the parts 4 and 3 of the pump rod or power transmission. The lever 5 com- .prlses companion bars which are pivoted at one end to the bars 2 at 8, a spacing sleeve being mounted upon the pivot pin arranged between said bars to hold them at a fixed position. The lever 6 preferably consists of a single bar, of T-form in transverse section, and pivoted to the bars 2, at 9, the inner portions of the levers 5 and 6 overlap and the bar 6 is arranged in the space formed between the bars comprising the lever 55. The coupling 7 connects the overlapped portions of the levers 5 and 6, and is adjustable automatically to vary the effective leverage and the stroke of the section 4 of the pump rod or power transmission. It is to be understood that the fulcra of the levers and 6 are fixed as are also the pivot connections of the sections 3 and 4 with the levers 6 and 5; hence variation of the point of connection between the two levers must result in a corresponding change in the length of stroke of the section 4, it being remembered that the stroke of the section 3 is fixed because of its connection with the driving crank or like part of the wind engine. The coupling 7 supports a pin 10 which projects from opposite sides thereof and receives shackles 11 upon its end portions. The said shackles 11 are mounted upon the end portions of the pin 10 so as to turn freely thereon, thereby admitting of the levers 5 and 6 readily adapting themselves to any relative angular position incident to the adjustment of the coupling 7 with reference thereto. Sleeves 12 are mounted upon end portions of the pin 10 between the slde members of the respective shackles and constitute both spacers and anti-friction devices. The members or bars of the lever 5 pass through the respective shackles, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4. In order to prevent any relative vertical play between the bars of the lever 5 and the sleeves 12 and the upper ends of the shackles 11, plates 13 are located in the upper ends of the shackles and rest upon the bars and are adapted to be adjusted by means of set screws 14 threaded into openings formed in the upper ends of the shackles. The coupling 7 itself is slidably mounted upon the lever 6 and is retained in place by receiving the lower flanged portion thereof, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the stroke of the section 3 and the amplitude of movement of the lever 6 are fixed. In asmuch as the point of connection between the two levers 5 and 6 is variable depending upon the coupling 7 and the shackles 11 it follows that the amplitude of movement of the lever 5 is proportionately variable; thence the power initially applied to the section 3 of the pump rod may be varied in its ultimate application through the section 4 depending upon the relative position of the coupling means between the two levers. It is proposed in accordance with this invention to automatically move the coupling means, and to effect this result, the devices illustrated have been devised in the relation shown and consist of the following parts: a cylinder 15, a piston 16 arranged to operate in the cylinder 15, a rod 17 connecting the piston 16 with the coupling 7 and a spring connection 18 between the coupling 7 and the lever 6, and normally exerting a. force to move the coupling toward the outer end of the lever 5. The cylinder 15 is at tached to the outer end of the lever 6 as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. A chamber or reservoir 19 is located adjacent to the cylinder 15 and is in communication therewith at opposite ends. This reservoir or chamber 19 is designed to receive a liquid, such as oil or water, which is pumped therefrom into the cylinder 15 to move the piston 16 and the coupling 7 against the tension of the variable or spring connection 18. One or more minute openings 20 afford communication between an end portion of the cylinder 15 and the adjacent end of the reservoir 19. An opening 21 establishes communication between the opposite end of the cylinder 15 and the contiguous end of the reservoir 19 and is controlled by means of a valve 22 which may be of any construction conveniently arranged for manual operat-ion whenrequired. A pump is located at the outer or rear end of the cylinder 15 and comprises a barrel 23 and a plunger 24. The pump is arranged approximately at a right angle to the length of the cylinder 15, and the rod 25 of the plunger 24 is connected to a cross piece 26 coupling the upper ends of the standards 27 which are mounted at their lower ends in bearings fitted to the bars 2. A tube 28 leads from the lower end of the pump barrel 28 and extends into the lower portion of the reservoir 19. An upwardly opening valve 29 closes the upper end of the tube 28. The lower end of the pump barrel is in communication with the cylinder 15 by means of an opening which is adapted to be closed by means of a valve 30. The valves 29 and 80 coiiperate and serve to close the openings leading into the pump barrel in alternation. Upon the upstroke of the plunger 24, the valve 29 opens and admits of the liquid drawn from the reservoir 19 passing into the lower portion of the pump barrel and at the same time the valve 30 closes. Upon the down-stroke of the plunger 24, the valve 29 closes and the valve 30 opens thereby permitting the liquid to pass from the pump barrel into the cylinder 15. The openings 20 prevent the formation of a vacuum in front of the piston 16 and the consequent cushioning of the same. By the proper adjustment of the valve 22 the eifective size of the opening 21 may be regulated, hence the time is regulated for permitting the liquid to return from the cylinder 15 into the piston 19, it being understood that the larger the opening 21, the more quickly the liquid may pass from the cylinder 15 into the reservoir 19. The yieldable connection 18 is shown as consisting of a pair of contractile springs or any means may be employed which will admit. of attaining the purpose stated.

In the installation or application of the invention, the means are arranged so that the levers are pivotally connected to the sections or partsof the pump rod or power transmission 'in substantially the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. It is to be understood that the section which is connected with the driver or wind mill is also pivotally connected to the lever 6 at 31, and the section or part 41 is similarly connected to the lever 5 at 32', both sections being substantially in alinement although this is not essential. As the section 3 is reciprocated in the well known manner, the lever 6 connected thereto is oscillated on the pivot support 9. Motion is transmitted from the lever 6 to the lever 5 through the coupling means comprising the parts 7 and 11. So long as the coupling means maintain a fixed relative position, the lever 5 and section 4 have a uniform movement. lVhen the coup ling means are moved nearer the parts 3 and st the effective leverage of the part 5 decreases and the stroke of the section 4 is proportionately augmented. As the coupling means between the two levers is moved away from the parts 3 and a, the effective leverage of the part 5 increases and the length of the stroke of the part 4 proportionately decreases, thereby enabling effective work to be performed in a light wind. Should the force of thewind increase, the speed of the engine will likewise increase and the pump rod or power transmission will be caused to operate faster with the result that the liquid will be pumped more rapidly from v the reservoir into the cylinder 15 thereby driving the piston 16 forward and moving the coupling means nearer the parts 3 and 4: and increasing the length of the stroke of the section or part a in the manner stated. It is to be remembered that the liquid has a passage from the cylinder 15 into the reservoir 19 through the opening 21 and when the liquid is pumped into the cylinder 15 more rapidly than it can pass from said cylinder into the reservoir 19, the piston 16 is forced forward. On the other hand when the speed of the engine or wind mill decreases by reason of diminution of the force of the wind, the pump will be operated more slowly thereby permitting the liquid to escape from the cylinder more rapidly than supplied thereto by means of the pump; hence the piston 16 is forced outward by means of the yieldable connection or like part 18 thereby carrying the coupling device farther from the parts 3 and 4 and increasing the leverage of the parts 5, enabling the load to be carried, or the work to be performed in a comparatively light wind.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A power transmission, comprising complemental parts, coiiperating levers having connection with the respective parts, coupling means between said levers, a sliding piston having connection with said coupling means, a pump adapted to be auto matically operated by said power transmission, a cylinder arranged to be charged by said pump so as to move the piston in a direction to carry the coupling means in one direction and means tending to move the coupling means in the opposite direction.

2. Power transmission comprising complemental parts, coiiperating levers having connection with the respective parts, coupling means between the levers, a sliding piston having connection with said coupling means, a' cylinder in which said piston is mounted, a pump adapted to be automatically operated by said power transmission to charge the cylinder to move the piston therein, and a valve controlled outlet applied to said cylinder to admit of the charge escaping therefrom in regulated quantity.

3. In combination, power t 'ansmission comprising complemental parts, coijperating levers having connection with the respective parts, one of said levers consisting of a single bar, and the other lever comprising a pair of bars spaced to receive the single bar, a coupling slidable upon the single bar, a pin carried by said coupling and projecting from opposite sides thereof, shackles mounted upon the end portions of said pin and receiving the spaced bars of the two bar lever, and means for varying the position of said coupling and shackles with reference to said levers connected thereby, and sleeves mounted upon the end portions of said pin between the side members of the shackles, plates interposed between the upper ends of the shackles and the bars passed therethrough, and means for adjusting said plates.

4. In combination power transmission comprising complemental parts, cooperating levers having connection with the respective parts, coupling means connecting said levers, a cylinder, a piston arranged to operate in said cylinder and having connection with said coupling means, a reservoir adjacent to the cylinder and adapted to receive a liquid, the cylinder having communication at its opposite ends with the reservoir, a valve for controlling the communication between said cylinder and the reservoir, and a pump adapted to be automatically actuated by movement of one of the aforesaid levers for drawing liquid from the reservoir and forcing the same into the cylinder and effecting positive movement of the piston therein. 5. In combination, power transmission, comprising complementary parts, cotiperating levers having connection with the respective parts, coupling means interposed between the levers, a cylinder carried by one of said levers, a piston arranged to operate in said cylinder and having connection with the coupling means, a pump barrel having connection with said cylinder and movable therewith, a plunger arranged to operate in said pump barrel, and a pivotal support for the rod of said plunger.

6. In combination, oppositely disposed levers having fixed fulcra and adapted to receive and transmit power, coupling means between said levers, a cyhnder carried by one of said levers, a piston operable in said cylinder and having connection with the coupling means, a reservoir adjacent to said cylinder and having communication with the opposite ends thereof and adapted to receive a liquid, a valve controlling the communication between the reservoir and the cylinder, and a pump carried by said cylinder and adapted to be actuated by the 15 movement of one of the levers to draw the liquid from the reservoir and force the same into the cylinder and positively move the piston therein.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 20 in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS M. NELSON.

WVitnesses:

H. I. HART, CHAs. C. TITUS. 

